Fur-plucking machine



Aug. 20, 1929. V F. w. HORSLTMANN FUR PLUCKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 13,1926 INVENTOR F.VV. HORSTMANN ATTORNEY g Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK W. HORSTMANN, OF MAPLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

FUR-PLUCKING MACHINE.

Application filed August 13, 1926.

This invention relates to machines for removing or plucking hard orstiff hairs from furs or skins.

An object of the invention is to provide mechanism for plucking hairsfrom a skin, which machine is simple in operation and inexpensive tomanufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide plucking mechanism capableof automatic operation after a skin has been brought manually intoposition for treatment and without further attention on the part of theoperator.

A further object of the invention is to provide plucking mechanismhaving readily adjustable parts so as to adapt the machine for varioustypes of furs and to obtain a greater degree of refinement in removingthe hairs.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a plucking machinewhich is capable of more accurately positioning a fur with respect tothe mechanism for removing the hairs.

' Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdetailed description when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the plucking machine,with the stretcher bar in its forward position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the plucking machine (the cover plate beingremoved for the sake of clarity) with the stretcher bar in retractedposition;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the feeding mechanism;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail View of the apron or stretcher bar inposition between the presser rollers; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged View of the feeding roller.

In certain types of machines employed for plucking the hairs from peltsor skins it has been the practice to place one end of the fur over astretcher bar and then bring the bar into plucking position, theoperator holding the skin at each end and gradually moving the same backand forth over the stretcher bar while the plucking operation takesplace. Such an operation is rather tedious and requires the services ofskilled operators. Furthermore, the plucking operation is not entirelysatisfactory in that the hairs at times are not removed to asufficientdepth Serial No. 128,950.

and therefore give the surface of the fur a non-uniform appearance.

The present invention obviates the necessity of skilled employees forperforming the plucking operation since all that isrequired of theoperator is to merely drape an end of a skin over the stretcher bar andthen move the latter into position adjacent the plucking mechanism atwhich time the skin is automatically fed over the stretcher bar bysuitable mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, in which specific embodiment one form of theinvention is illustrated, the machine may consist of a frame 6supporting a table 7 upon which is mounted side plates 8 and 9 and backplate 11 having an opening 12 connected to a suitable exhaust mechanism,such as a suction fan or pump (not shown), for removing the pluckedhairs. A cover plate 13 is pivotally supported at 14 on the back plate11. The cover plate has a raised arched portion 15 Which partly containsthe plucking knives later to be described.

Supported in bearing boxes 15 mounted in the side plates 8 and 9, is adrum 16 carrying a pluralit of helically arranged cutting or pluckinglades 17. Cooperating with the knives or blades 17 is a roller 18mounted in bearings 19 disposed in the ends of bell crank levers 21 and22 disposed on each side of the machine. The bell-crank levers 21 and 22are pivoted at 23 and 24, respectively,

on the side plates and engaging the arms 25 and 26 of these levers areadjustable screws 27 and 28, whereby the roller 18 may be properlypositioned with respect to the cuttin or plucking knives. The surface ofthe roll er 18 may be resilient, as for example, it may be provided witha rubber sleeve, or if preferable the entire roller may be made of solidrubber.

The knives may be rapidly driven in the desired direction by means of abelt 29 threaded over a pully head 32 on the shaft of the drum 16, saidbelt being connected to any suitable source of power. Power is suppliedfrom the head 32 by means of a belt 29 to an idler pulley 31 supportedon a shaft 33 mounted in bearings 34 secured to the frame of themachine.

In order to bring a skin in proper position adjacent the pluckingmechanism just described and to automatically feed the skin thereto, thefollowing instrumentalities are provided. Mounted adjustably on thetable 7 are two standards 35 and 36 on each side of the machine. Eachstandard has an outwardly extending arm 37 for a purpose later to bedescribed. Pivotally mounted in each standard is a pair of oppositelydisposed levers 38 and 39, which are pivoted on a common shaft or pin41.

The forward ends of the levers 38 support a roller 42 which latter has aresilient surface which may be formed by coating the roller with rubber.It is obvious that the roller may be made entirely of rubber. Theforward ends of levers 39 support a roller 44 which latter may also becovered with rubher or otherwise provided with a yielding surface.

Disposed between the rear ends of the levers 38 and 39 are compressionsprings 45 which are mounted on pins or bolts 46 passing through theends of the levers 38 and 39. The bolts are provided with a head 47 atone end and a nut 47 at the other end to prevent the levers from beingclosed more than a predetermined distance which is dependent upon thesize of the stretcher bar, later to be described, the thickness of thefur being plucked, and so forth. The nuts 47 may be threaded on the endsof the bolts 46 so as to permit adjustment of the space between therollers 42 and 44 and a lock nut 47 may be employed to hold the leversin adjusted position.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that the rollers 42 and 44are held in fixed relation with respect to each other but that they maybe moved outwardly away from each other as an object is thrusttherebetween and furthermore that when they are so moved the springs 45will be placed under compression and thus cause an object to be firmlygripped by the rollers.

The rollers may be adjusted as a unit either upwardly or downwardly sothat they may be properly positioned with respect to the cutting knives.This is accomplished by passing through the ends of the levers 38 and 39bolts 48 which have one end fastened in the arms 37 of the standards 35and 36. The ends of the bolts 48 extending through the levers may bethreaded and nuts 49 and 51 screwed thereon may be employed to securethe rollers in adjusted position. Helical springs 52 may be mounted onthe bolts 48 between the levers 38 and 39 and the arms 37, so thatadjustment may be had either upwardly or downwardly.

The rollers 42 and 44 may be adjusted as a unit toward the cutting orplucking mechanism by means of the bolt and slot connection 53 and 54.

Cooperating with the rollers 42 and 43 is a stretcher bar 55 oftriangular: shape in cross section. The apex of the bar is disposedtoward the cutting or plucking mechanism. The bar is rigidly supportedin the ends of the forwardly projecting arms 56 of levers 57, pivoted at58 on each side near the base of the machine. The lever has anadjustable connection 59 near the upper end thereof, said adjustmentconsisting of a slot in the one portion and one or more bolts passingthrough apertures in the other portion, whereby the two portions of thelever may be adjusted and held in adjusted position. Also disposedbetween and supported by the levers 57 and immediately to the rear ofthe stretcher bar 55 is a feeding roller 61 which is provided with aroughened surface 62. The surface may be formed by knurling the rolleror by cutting intersecting helices in the surface of the roller. Thesurface which I have found best suited for the purpose of feeding a peltis one consisting of a great number of pin points. Obviously thesepoints may be formed in a number of different ways. As illustrated inFig. 5, the feeding roller 61 is formed by cutting groovescircumferentially of the roller and intersecting such grooves withlongitudinal grooves so as to form fine points 62 which grip theunderside of the pelt and assist in feeding the same about the stretcherbar.

Immediately to the rear of the feeding roller 61 is a smoother bar 63,the said bar also being mounted in the arms 56 of the lovers 57. Thisbar has an edge 64 of angular form so that the middle point 65 extendsrearwardly a greater distance than the ends 66 of the bar. By reason ofsuch construction a skin when drawn over the angular edge of the barwill be smoothed from the middle thereof toward the sides.

The stretcher bar 55 may be brought into position adjacent the pluckingmechanism 7 by means of a bumper bar 67 against which the operator maypress with his body. hen the bar 67 is pressed inwardly the stretcherbar is held in fixed position adjacent the knives by a latch 68,pivotally mounted on a plate 69 pivoted to the frame of the machine at71. An adjustment 72 is provided for the plate 69 so as to limit thedistance the stretcher bar is moved inwardly. A stop or notch 73 on thelatch engages a pin 74 on one of the levers 57 to limit the distance thestretcher bar is moved inwardly. A rubber cushion 75 is disposed aroundthe adjustment screw 76 to absorb any shock occasioned by forciblymoving the stretcher bar inwardly. In addition the latch 68 is providedwith a spring pressed cushion 77 to absorb any shock when the latch isreleased from engagement with the pin 74. The stretcher bar is retractedor moved rearwardly automatically upon release of the latch, this beingaccomplished by the action of a spring 78 fastened at one end to theframe of the machine and at the other end to an arm 7 9 projecting fromone of the levers 57. The release of the latch may be effected bypressing upon a foot treadle 81 which is connected by a link 82 to theouter end of the latch.

Motion may be imparted to the rollers 4-2, 44, and feeding roller 61 bya crossed belt 83, threaded over a pulley 84, mounted on the same shaftas driving pulley 31. The belt 83 is also threaded over pulley 85loosely mounted on the pivot pin or shaft of the levers 38 and 39.Rotating with the pulley is a gear Wheel 86 meshing with gear wheels 87and 88 mounted on the shafts of rollers 42 and 44. The gear wheel 88 hasone less tooth than gear wheel 87 in order that a pull or tension isapplied to the skin as it is fed over the stretcher bar. The shaft ofthe feeding roller 61 also has mounted thereon a gear wheel 89 which isbrought into engagement with the gear wheels 90 and 91 also mounted onthe shafts of rollers 42 and 44, upon movement of the stretcher bar intoposition adjacent the cutting of plucking mechanism.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Assuming that the stretcherbar is in therearward position and away from the rollers 42 and 44, anoperator drapes the end of a skin to be plucked over the stretcher bar,leaving the longer end of the skin hanging over the smoother bar. Theoperator then presses upon the bumper bar and thus moves the stretcherbar to a position adjacent the cutting or plucking mechanism. As thestretcher bar is brought between the rollcrs 42 and 4A, the latter willbe pressed outwardly and placed under tension and the movement of thestretcher bar is continued toward the cutting or plucking mechanism thefur or skin will be firmly pressed against the feeding roller 61 whichengages the underside of the skin. At this time gear wheel 89 is broughtinto mesh with the slowly rotating gear wheels 90 and 91, and motion isthus imparted to feeding roller 61 to cause the skin to be slowly fedpast the cutting or plucking mechanism. The operator may then proceed toload another machine, the plucking of the skin in the machine justloaded taking place automatically. After the skin has been fullyplucked, the stretcher bar may be removed from its position adjacent thecutting mechanism by merely pressing upon the foot treadle. Theforegoing operations may then be repeated.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it is obvious that those skilled in the art may makedepartures therefrom, however, such modifications which are made whichcome within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claimsare contemplated by me.

WVhat is claimed is:

1. A plucking machine comprising means for plucking the hairs from afur, means including a stretcher bar for positioning a fur adjacent saidplucking means, tension rollers adjacent said plucking means forengaging a fur draped over said stretcher bar to draw the same thereoverand means for automatically moving the fur past said plucking means.

2. A plucking machine comprising means for plucking the hairs from afur, means including a stretcher bar for positioning a fur adjacent saidplucking means, means for locking said second-mentioned means adjacentsaid plucking means, tension rollers adjacent said plucking means forengaging a fur draped over said stretcher bar to draw the same thereoverand means for automatically moving the fur past said plucking means,said last mentioned means cooperating with said tension rollers toeffect the movement of said fur past said plucking means.

3. A plucking machine comprising means for plucking the hairs from afur, a stretcher bar movable toward and from said plucking means, afeeding roller also movable toward and from said plucking meanssimultaneously with said stretcher bar, and means for causing saidfeeding roller to become operative to feed a fur over said stretcher barwhen the latter is brought into position adjacent said plucking means.

4. A plucking machine comprising means for plucking the hairs from afur, a stretcher bar movable toward and from said plucking means, afeeding roller also movable toward and from said plucking meanssimultaneously with said stretcher bar, a plurality of tension memberspositioned adjacent said plucking means and adapted to engage thesurface of a fur when brought into position adjacent the plucking meansby the stretcher bar, and means for causing a rotation of said feedingroller when adjacent said plucking means.

5. A fur plucking machine comprising means for plucking a fur, astretcher bar movable toward and from said plucking means, levers forsupporting said stretcher bar, a feeding roller also supported by saidlevers to the rear of said stretcher bar, a smoother plate alsosupported by said levers to the rear of said feeding roller, and meansfor operating said feeding roller when said stretcher bar is positionedadjacent said plucking means.

6. A fur plucking machine comprising means for plucking afur, a pair ofspaced apart tension rollers adjacent said plucking means, a stretcherbar movable between said tension rollers, means for rotating saidtension rollers, and a feeding roller cooperating with said tensionrollers to cause a movement of a fur over said stretcher I bar.

7. A fur plucking machine comprising means for plucking a fur, a pair oftension rollers adjacent said plucking means, means for adjusting saidtension rollers with respect to each other, a stretcher bar movablebetween said tension rollers, means for rotating said tension rollers,and a feeding roller cooperating with said tension rollers to cause amovement of a fur over said stretcher bar.

8. A' fur plucking machine comprising means for plucking a fur, a pairof tension rollers adjacent said plucking means, means for adjustingsaid tension rollers with respect to each other, means for adjustingsaid tension rollers as a unit upwardly or downwardly, a stretcher barmovable between said tension rollers, means for rotating said tensionrollers, and a feeding roller cooperating with said tension rollers tocause a movement of a fur over said stretcher bar.

9. A fur plucking machine comprising means for plucking a fur, a pair oftension rollers adjacent said plucking means, means for adjusting saidtension rollers with respect to each other, means for adjusting saidtension rollers as a unit upwardly or down- Wardly, means for adjustingsaid tension rollers with respect to said plucking means, a stretcherbar movable between said tension rollers, means for rotating saidtension rollers, and a feeding roller cooperating with said tensionrollers to cause a movement of a fur over said stretcher bar.

10. A fur plucking machine comprising means for plucking a fur, astretcher bar movable toward and from said plucking means, meansformoving said stretcher bar toward and from said plucking means, meansfor locking said stretcher bar when positioned adjacent said pluckingmeans, and

means for adjusting said locking means to adjust the limit of movementofthe stretcher bar toward said plucking means.

11. A fur plucking machine comprising means for plucking a fur, astretcher bar manually movable toward said plucking means, means forautomatically locking said stretcher bar when in operative positionadjacent said plucking means, means for adjusting said locking means ,toalter the position at which the stretcher bar is automatically locked,and means for removing said locking means to permit the release of saidstretcher bar and its return to inoperative position.

12. A fur plucking machine comprising means for plucking a fur, a pairof tension rollers adjacent said plucking means, meshing gear wheelscarried by said tension rollers, means for rotating said gear wheels, astretcher bar supported for movement toward and from said plucking meansand between said tension rollers, a feeding roller movable with saidstretcher bar, a gear wheel on said feeding roller adapted to mesh withsaid first mentioned gear wheels when the stretcher bar is brought intoposition adj acent said plucking means, one of said first mentioned gearwheels having one tooth less than the other gear wheel so as to stretchthe fur when fed over said stretcher bar.

13. A fur plucking machine comprising means for plucking a fur, astretcher bar manually movable toward said plucking means, a feedingroller for moving a fur over the edge of said stretcher bar, saidfeeding roller having a pin-point surface, and means for operating saidfeeding roller when said stretcher bar is adjacent said plucking means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FREDERICK W. HORSTMANN.

